1) Set Steam to run in full offline mode.
2) Download cracked .exe files for all your steam games no problemo.
3) Steam is one of several valid alternatives.
4) PC by default is NOT a dedicated gaming machine. Steam adds certain services like automatic installing and patching that are welcome on PC (and are missing by default).

For the first point, you need an internet connection everytime you need to install a game and a lot of steam games need to run on online mode (without any reason).

The second point is the worst argument i can read, using piracy argument (crack a game is not legal) to defend Valve's platform.

Three, there a lot of alternative online shops on internet without drm (GOG.com and desura for example) but no one seems to know it or support it. Even, I can wait a drm-free version in humble bundle for indie game.

The lifetime of your Steam games is (maybe) far more than a console game but one day it can be deleted from your library (remember you buying a license and read the subscriber agreement). One day, someone will regret it.